Ashwagandha is a type of evergreen shrub native to Asia and Africa. It is commonly used to relieve stress. There is little evidence to suggest that it can be used as an “adaptogen.”
Ashwagandha roughly translates from Sanskrit as “horse smell and strength,” which, uh, doesn’t seem like a selling point.
9 Benefits of ashwagandha
- Assists in Getting a Good Night’s Sleep- Triethylene glycol, a compound found in the leaves, was discovered to play a role in the plant’s sleep-promoting properties. The GABA neurotransmitter pathway, which is one of the main sedative neurotransmitters, was influenced by ashwagandha. GABA has been linked to improved mood, a sense of calm and tranquillity, better sleep, PMS relief, and calm focus.
- Stress Reduction and Overall Well-Being-The root extract significantly reduced cortisol levels and increased stress resistance compared to the control group.
- Immune Booster- The benefits of Ashwagandha is that it is a potent immune system modulator, which means it helps to maintain a balance between an underactive immune system (increased susceptibility to infection) and an overactive immune system (autoimmunity).
- Support for memory and cognition- Here are some result of research done showing Ashwagandha benefits for men:- Adults who took 300 mg of ashwagandha root twice a day improved their immediate and long-term memory, as well as their “executive function, attention, and information processing speed.” Healthy men who received 500 mg of standardised ashwagandha extract once a day exhibited improvements in brain function, particularly reaction time related to cognitive tasks, in another study.
- Thyroid- There are many Benefits of Ashwagandha that helps to enhance the conversion of T4 (the thyroid store hormone) to T3 (the active thyroid hormone),” according to The Modern Herbal Dispensatory.
- Optimal Energy Levels– Ashwagandha roots are high in withanolides, which have a favourable effect on the body’s energy generation system.
- Maintain a healthy blood sugar level with these tips– As a result of elevated cortisol, the blood sugar level also increases, which in turn increases insulin, which is responsible for fat storage. It has been found in several human trials to aid in the maintenance of appropriate blood sugar levels.
- Defends the body from oxidative damage- A number of antioxidants are found in Ashwagandha including withanamides, which have “powerful antioxidant properties that help protect against cellular damage caused by free radicals.”
- The Hormone & Reproductive Support Formula- Ashwagandh benefits men by supporting healthy hormone levels and reducing free radicals, it improves sperm quality and counts.
How to use Ashwagandha?
As a tea, tincture, or powder, it can be consumed by itself. It can be easily incorporated into your daily life by following these simple steps:
- Ashwagandha tea
Ingredients:
- 1-1/2 tsp ashwagandha root powder
- 4 ounces of water (room temperature)
Cover the pot with a lid and let the ashwagandha root and water steep together. After 20 minutes of decocting herbs, remove the decoction from the heat and let it steep for an hour before straining out the root of the ashwagandha.
- Aromatherapy Tincture of Ashwagandha
Ingredients
- Ashwagandha root, 1 ounce, dried (by weight)
- 5 ounces of alcohol with a proof of 140 or higher (by volume)
A mason jar with a lid can be filled with ashwagandha root and alcohol. The mixture should infuse for six to eight weeks in a dark cabinet, occasionally shaking the jar.
- Powder form
In addition to wine and ghee, the powder can be used in smoothies, coconut milk drinks and nut butter balls.
Precautions
If you are pregnant, you should not take ashwagandha.
Nightshade-sensitive people should avoid ashwagandha.
In terms of clinical relevance, ashwagandha is unlikely to interact with other supplements or medications.
Conclusion
It’s possible that Ashwagandha is translated as “strength of a thousand horses,” but its action is a lot gentler and more foundational than the translation suggests! To the contrary, ashwagandha does not stimulate the body in the same way as herbs such as ginseng or Eluthero do. In other words, there isn’t a big rush of energy, so there’s also no corresponding crash of energy depletion.
Your resilience increases each day, until eventually you feel like your old self again. Particularly beneficial is Ashwagandha in the case of prolonged exhaustion, exhaustion, or deficiency.